San Francisco 49ers notebook: Linebacker Patrick Willis is NFC defensive player of the week

SANTA CLARA -- Linebacker Patrick Willis, a five-time Pro Bowler, received only his second career NFC Defensive Player of the Week award Wednesday.

Willis had a team-high 10 tackles, two passes defensed and his first interception of the season in Sunday's shutout of the host New York Jets.

"I start by thanking my teammates," Willis said. "The front seven is unbelievable. I wouldn't be half the guy I am without those guys."

Agreeing, in part, with that assessment was Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey, whose team visits the 49ers on Sunday.

"He doesn't stand out tremendously in that group, because they've got a bunch of outstanding football players in that group," Gailey said on a conference call. "But when you start to just watch him individually play after play, he really is an amazing player."

No other 49ers defensive player was nominated for player-of-the-week consideration, even though Carlos Rogers returned one of his two fumble recoveries for a touchdown and Aldon Smith registered two sacks.

Willis remains the face of a defense that ranks third in yards allowed per game (277.3), sixth against the run (79.5 ypg) and fifth against the pass (197.8). Willis' only other player-of-the-week honor came last season, with an 18-tackle display in an Oct. 9 rout of Tampa Bay.

Linebacker NaVorro Bowman, whose 54 tackles lead the 49ers ahead of Willis' 41, was limited in practice with a right-shoulder injury. He wore a black, no-contact jersey.

Randy Moss' limited playing time is a byproduct of the 49ers' receiving options rather than an effort to save his 35-year-old legs, said coach Jim Harbaugh, adding: "We have a lot of things that we could use right now. And it's more that than anything else."

The 49ers have posted back-to-back shutouts only twice in franchise history: in 1961 and 1974. The last time it happened, the 49ers blanked the Atlanta Falcons 27-0 after posting a 34-0 shutout of the Chicago Bears. Last Sunday's score: 34-0.

Running back Brandon Jacobs practiced, and even though he's declared himself ready to make his season debut, Harbaugh said he will assess that option during the week. Factoring into Harbaugh's decision will be determining whom Jacobs replaces and how that impacts their special teams.

Quarterback Alex Smith, who worked on his mechanics this offseason with pitching guru Tom House, provided a positive update: "I feel good. At this point, it's not something that I'm thinking a lot about. I feel healthy. I feel really good. Shoulder feels great, my body feels good. So, that's the most important thing."

Baseball legend Willie Mays visited the 49ers and signed autographs. Other distinguished guests: the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels, who will fly over the Bay Area for Fleet Week.

A few weeks ago before practice, Harbaugh said he spotted Frederick P. Soft, the mythical creature he introduced last season to personify someone intent on bloating the 49ers' egos. Harbaugh did not blame Soft, or any perceived complacency, for the team's Sept. 23 loss at Minnesota: "We had good preparation, played hard, had a very good effort and we didn't win that game."